Today we started the side events in which IFAD is
participating. We started with the side event of Mobilizing Biodiversity
Finance where IFAD’s Environment and Climate Change, Director, Elwyn
Grainger-Jones participated. At this event, GEF CEO Naoko Nishii explained what
GEF has been doing to mobilize resources, but also what needs to be done in the
future to adapt to the negative effects of climate change. According to Mrs.
Nishii, the GEF has more than 20 years of experience in channeling funds to adaptation.
The GEF council adopted an adaptation strategy and it is preparing a book about
that. The Minister of Energy and Environment of the Seychelles described the
policies that the country is preparing for climate change adaptation, taking
into consideration that the Seychelles is a small island state. He said that, 'humanity is not prepared, or ready, to adapt'.

I also participated in the side event on Climate Change
and Food Security along with the World Bank, UNIDO, FAO and UNEP. All these
agencies are working to increase food security, even if it is not their
principal mandate. There was a consensus among participants that targets are
difficult to set because good food security is difficult to measure.

ECD’s Sheila Mwanundu, took part in the side event
Towards Gender Equality. Participants highlighted the value of mainstreaming
gender throughout projects. IFAD has clear targets to include gender and
inclusion in monitoring and evaluation
systems of each if its projects and it is also part of IFAD's overall
monitoring system.

Finally Elwyn spoke later at the climate finance event along
with the World Bank, IDB, the African Development Bank and UNDP. He spoke about
IFAD’s innovative Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme and the real
benefits and innovations it is bringing
to rural communities in developing countries.

A number of bilateral meetings were organized with the
World Bank, the Ministry of Environment of Colombia, and a number of other
partners.

About IFAD

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided grants and low-interest loans to programmes and projects that have reached several hundred million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome – the UN’s food and agriculture hub.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this blog do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The designations “developed” and “developing” countries are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process.